*

　Makoto tightened the clasp on his basket and clapped his fists together.
　He suddenly felt uncomfortable and re-tightened the clasp.
　The new Kagome is uncomfortable because it is lighter than the previous one.
　That can be said of equipment in general.
　Although the performance itself should have been improved, the sense of discomfort cannot be wiped out.
　I feel uneasy.
　Is it really possible to win?
　Kuzuha is strong.
　He's probably the strongest enemy I've ever fought.
　Of course, we have no intention of losing.
　If we all fight together, I think we can win.
　But the fact that we have a chance of winning and anxiety are two different things.

''Sir.........''

　I turned around and saw Shelly looking at me anxiously.

'Don't worry, we'll come back with a win.'
I guess a little whining won't hurt, though.
It's a boy.
Well, your husband is a boy.

　Sherry chuckled and Mako scratched her head in a ragged way.
　If I'm honest, I'd like to let out a weakness or two.
　But saying a weakness or two wouldn't help.
　It would only make Shelly uncomfortable, and she might be disappointed.
　I can't talk about weaknesses in case I don't get sympathy.
　Well, no.
　I don't like being disappointed, but I hate being disappointed even more.
　I don't want to be expected to be disappointed without permission and I don't want to be disappointed without permission.
　Well, maybe I simply don't trust Shelly.
　Shelly followed silently as Mako put on the porch and started walking away.
　He left the room and walked down the stairs.
　Then, on the first floor, my friends - Yuka, Fene, Liv, Laura, and Fujika - were waiting for me.
　They all seem to be ready to go.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find it in a few minutes.

'How long are you going to keep me waiting?'
You're not gonna be much longer.

　I say back to Yuka, who looks miffed.

'I've waited, I've waited so long.
Don't be so glum.

　Liv chided Yuka, who was still complaining.

'Mako and Shelly are a lot of things, a lot of things.
Well, you're not gonna...
'Yuka, you'd better not be stepping on the mines yourself.
It's not like that!
I don't understand why you're stepping on mines when you buried them yourself.

　Yuka said, turning red in the face, and Fujika said with a sigh.

'Rather, Yuka's more like a munchkin.
Who's hungry? Who's hungry?
He said his name was Yuca.
Well, well, well, you both need to calm down.

　Laura interrupted between Yuka and Fujica.
　She glanced over here - or rather, at Shelly.
　What's the appeal?

'Nah, it's distracting as usual, isn't it?
As usual?

　Mako descends the stairs, scratching her neck.
　That's when--

'I'm here to pick you up!
I'm here.

　Two girls--Mary and Anne--entered the room.

'Yeah, you two--'
'Yes, I'm going to be there as a luggage carrier!
Well, we'll get you in here, just in case you're wondering who you are.

　Mary says briskly and Anne blurts out.

'Come to think of it, you're being very careful with your words today.
It's just, uh-huh.
Well I found out that the Black Flame is a great team.
Anne!
Thank you for that.

　Mary exclaimed sharply, but Anne bowed her head in a bowing motion.

'So much--'
Great!

　Yuka interrupted Makoto.

'It's important to be sensible, very important. You guys have a lot of potential.'
Uh, yeah, I mean...
Thank you very much.

　Anne bows her head in bewilderment at Mary's bewilderment.

'Tell me if you need anything. 'Mako will take care of it.'
Me?
It's okay to have a little compassion. Compassion does not pay for itself.
'For some reason, it feels really strange when Yuka says it...'
I'm a little uncomfortable with it, too.

　Mako tilted her head, and Fujika tilted her head as well.

'Little things are good, little things are good.'
Really?
Yes!

　Yuka said, putting her hands on her hips.
　'In Shelly's case it's an appeal that she's angry, but in Yuka's case it's more likely that she's really angry.

'So you're going to take care of him?　Don't you?
Why are you so high and mighty?
No, no, no, we're not-- Mgg.
I'll look forward to hearing from you.

　Mary was about to say something, but Anne covered her mouth from behind.

'Look, look, the pretty junior says please,'
''Alright. I'll think of something after we finish defeating Kuzuha.
Oh, thank you!
Thank you very much.

　Mary and Anne bowed their heads begrudgingly.

'Are you sure?'
I don't like the idea of having someone I know die.
My brother is a good-natured guy. Well, I think that's what I like about him.

　Fene muttered goggles as she twisted her body.
　I don't feel bad about it, but I feel bad when people call me a softie and so on.
　That is because I want to be able to accept requests without going through the church.
　I don't want to talk about it because my vision isn't set in stone yet and there are many problems.

'....Mary.
'　Then we'll lead the way!

　Mary turned on her heel and walked away.
　Anne followed, followed by Makoto and the others.
　When she put her hand on the Western Door--.

'Sir!'

　Shelly screamed.
　When I turned around, Sherry looked like she was about to cry.
　Maybe she was remembering her old patrons.

'Don't worry, I'll be back,'
I'll be waiting for you.

　Shelly wiped the corners of her eyes and Mako looked forward again.

*

　When Makoto and the others left the castle gate, there were nearly ten carriages in a row.
　The first four carriages are box carriages and the rest are covered carriages.

Which carriage--
Oh, thank you for coming.

　A wild voice interrupted Makoto's words.
　I looked at the direction the voice had come from and saw that Frank was about to walk up to me with his arms outstretched.
　We exchanged an embrace - hot or not, I'm not sure - and then left.

'Where's our carriage?'
We'll take the lead. We're in the second car, Shank in the third, and the fourth--
It's Loyne, right?
Well, yeah.

　Frank gave him a subtle look.
　This was because Loyne's boxcarriage was gold-worked.
　It wasn't gilded, but it looked like grown-up money.

'No taste, but I'm good at it.
Okay.

　Frank grunted and Mako had to nod.
　What else could he say?
　Whatever he thought, Yuka stood next to Makoto.
　I only have a bad feeling.

''You're doing a great job of putting up a death flag.
Hey!

　Mako exclaimed involuntarily.

What?
There's no way you're getting a death flag. No way you're getting a death flag.
I said I was dying. It's not the bravado that bothers me, it's the arrogance. He's the type of person who will be killed by having his pride ripped to shreds. I can see that.
...you're such a dick.

　Makoto grunted, holding his temples.
　I understand. I know the feeling is painful, but I didn't want you to say it here.
　A man dressed in very flashy clothes like a bullfighter--Royne turned around and walked over to me.

''I'm what?''
I said you're putting up too many death flags.
"Huh, you're not very polite, little girl. I would normally turn her into a piece of rust for this rapier, but she's one of us. This place--
You're not going to rat me out, are you?
What are you talking about?

　Loyne stared at Yuka with a guffaw.

'I'm the man who was gifted with the title of knight!
I know. It's called a sirloin, isn't it? It's called a steak.
Don't mess with that.
You think so too, don't you, Makoto?
Don't ask for my consent. Please.
See, that's not what I'm thinking.

　No, I thought for sure that sir loin was a steak, but why would I say that here?

'Shh, excuse me!'

　Loyne turned his back and left with a rough gait.

''........Yuka.
Oh, it's not my fault.

　Yuka turned away as if in a huff.

'If that wasn't Yuka's fault, whose fault is it?
'Well?　Because the sun was so bright.
You.
'Okay, then it's all my fault. The sun rising in the east, the red post, it's all my fault.
Okay.

　Once the words are out of your mouth.

'Hey!　The sun's coming up in the east!　What are you going to do about it?
'Yes!　I'm here and the sun will come up!　Praise be to God!
The post is red! The post!　What can you do about it?　The post, the post is so red!　This isn't very good, you know. A tomato doesn't stand a chance if it's this red--
I don't know!

　Yuka yelled back at me.

''........before the roots of your tongue are even dry.
It's because of all the nonsense you've said, Makoto.
You told me it was my fault.
'It's bad enough that you're a weird acting mako. I was really annoyed. Especially that part about 'nah-ka' - what is that, kabuki?
No, it's not.
I know!

　The next moment when Fujika was about to break in, Yuka shouted.

'Yeah!　Yes!　You're gonna tell me that's not kabuki, right?　I know!　You're the one who's going to show off your culture here and there!
As usual, Yuka's backhandedness takes me by surprise.

　Fujica crossed her arms and nodded, as if she was getting used to the quicksilver.

'Are we done?'
I'm sorry.
Loyne can be a bit self-indulgent.

　Then Frank lightly cowered his shoulders.
　Then, Yuka tapped Makoto's second arm with the back of her hand.

'What?'
See, here's what I'm saying.

　Hmph, Yuka sniffed.

''........Yuka, there is a word in the world, you know. There's a word for it, "mature".
I know that much. You're supposed to be quiet when you're pissed off.
'If you know so much, how can you not see that Frank is acting like an adult?
Yeah, I know.

　Yuka's gaze swam as she said it.

Anyway, you need to stop making enemies.
People are the enemy of people.
Are you the type of person who thinks life is empty because you're going to die anyway?
That's impossible. There's a process to life, a process.
I know that's what I'm doing.
So, what do you mean by that?
There's a process to be followed when it comes to antagonizing people, a process.
Did you get it?
'I'm not cracking up. Yuka said what I was going to say first.
Sirloin?
Where are you going with this? I mean, don't give me a sirloin in this context.

　I shove it at Yuka, who tilts her head slightly.

'You don't understand Mako, do you?
What?
'Once you think you're the enemy, you're the enemy until the day you die. I knew from the first time I met you that I had to settle things with Roine.
Why do you become your mortal enemy the moment you meet him?
You have five seconds to pick a fight.
There's a process to life, isn't there?
It's energy-saving. Isn't it green?
"In the nostrils...
Wait!

　Yuka shouted sharply and glanced at Fujica.

'What?'
'You start talking about eco-friendly or whatever, and that woman is going to show her awareness. Of course she's going to say something about marine pollution from microplastics.
Sometimes I wonder if Yuka has a condition with a medical name.
So, what do you want?

　Yuka asked through Mako's words.

'I'm going to buzz a straw through your nostrils.
Why?
It's because I said eco-friendly.
What kind of a street demon would stick a straw up an ecologist's nose?

　Yuka backed away with a frightened look on her face.

'Are we done?'
Oh, God, no.

　Makoto bowed his head to Frank, who looked somewhat emaciated.

*

　A thrusting shock hit the boxcarriage and Mako woke up.
　Looking out the window, the landscape was tinted with slanting sunlight.

'You sleep well,'
I'm a businessman.
'Yes, yes, you're a businessman, you're trained to sleep anywhere, anytime.

　Yuka, who was sitting on the opposite seat, said with a sigh.
　By the way, Fene is sitting next to Yuka, and Fujika is next to her.
　Next to Makoto is Laura and next to her is Liv.

I'm just saying that you sleep too much. You sleep from the time you leave town until lunch and then sleep until now after lunch, are you a descendant of the three-year sleeper or something?
There wasn't a man named Neitaro in the family tree. There was a man named Yasuke, but...
"Irony, irony.
I know, I know. But I guess you're a good sleeper, huh?
Why?
Neitaro was the guy who dropped a rock from the mountain and drained the rice paddies, right?　You've been working for every minute you've slept.
Did we talk about that?

　Yuka raised her eyebrows quizzically and held her temples.

'That's how it was in the anime, man. Isn't that what you know?'
I know Neitaro. He was stealing money from a gold mine.
That's a badass.
I'm not a bad person.

　For some reason, Yuka said, miffed.

'As I recall, the story is that he stole sandals from a miner working in the gold mine to get money for them.
How can you get money for stealing my slippers?
He said he's got sand in his slippers.
Doesn't that sound impossible?

　A TV program I saw a long time ago said that a thorough surveillance system was in place at the gold mine to prevent gold theft.
　And yet, how could I miss gold in my sandals?

'Don't tell me. Don't tell me, you know, it's an old story, you have to be flexible.
That's exactly what you don't want me to know.

　Makoto held his temples.
　Well, is it too much to ask for reality in an old story?

In short, Nekitaro is like a rat in the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac.
So that's how it works.
"I love stories like this. The ones that put the smackdown on all the cunning and bravado.
What other stories do you like to talk about?
A straw man. I have a dream.

　Mufu~, Yuka exhaled through her nose.

''Yuka, if you're a girl, maybe Cinderella--''
It's a story about chopping off your sister-in-law's legs.

　Fujika called out to her, but was interrupted by Yuka.

''I thought you were going to make me wear bright red burnt gold shoes?''
That's Snow White.
'Both of you I'm talking about the less cruel route.
Hmmm, pass.
"Pass?

　Fujika mumbles to herself, parroting.

'It's not my hobby to make the prince happy.

　Then Yuka ruffled her hair.
　It's a typical Yuka line.

''But then again, the three-year sleeper is a terrible story.
Miss Makoto, Miss Makoto.
What?

　Makoto turns his gaze to Fujika, who moves her hand as if beckoning him to join her.

'It's like the Three-Year Sleeping Taro has all sorts of variations.
Is that so?
It doesn't end with him stealing the money in the first place. Neitaro uses the money for irrigation work, and everyone is happy with the ending.
What's that?

　When I looked back at Yuka, she had a look on her face as if she had bitten down on a bitter bug.

'Tch, the haters are going to give you a shot, and you're funny, but I missed it.

　Right after Yuka spat out, a light shock hit the boxcarriage.
　Looking outside, the landscape was moving more slowly than before.

''Hmm, it looks like we're going to camp here today.''
Camp.
Christine brought all the food and I've brought mine, so you won't have to worry about it.

　When Yuka blurted out, Fene gave a thumbs up.
　The boxcarriage stopped--.

''Oi, I'm going to get some food.
I'll help you.
I'm gonna go get some wood.
I'm going with you.

　The four of them slithered out of the boxcarriage.
　Makoto and Yuka are the only ones left.
　I stare at Yuka.

"What?
I was just wondering if you were going to help me.
You're just out of time.

　Yuka said in a miffed tone.

'Fujika has a lot of pointers, even for a young lady.
You just don't have the hang of it, do you?
No, I don't think so, maybe.
Maybe.
What about Mako?
It has to be bad.
Don't be high and mighty.

　Tsk, Yuka clicked her tongue and fell silent.


What's that?
We often hold a pot party at the company's year-end party. The guy who can do the nabe orders is supposed to be good at his job.
The potmaster.

　Yuka said dumbly.

'I have a feeling that's going to determine whether or not you'll rise to the occasion.
"OK, if national service doesn't work for me, I'll work for a foreign company.
Isn't a foreign company supposed to be a barbecue captain or something?
It's a shitty practice.

　Yuka spits and shuts down again.
　She crossed her legs and looked out the window.

''Well don't you have something to say to me?''
I don't know if I'm gonna die.
Why do you keep saying that?

　Yuka looked at me and shouted.

'You wanted to hear a weakness, didn't you?'
'I don't think so!　You should be encouraged to be comforting!
Well, come on, let's go.
'I'll do my best not to be told!
What do you want me to do?

　Makoto blurted out and chuckled.
　Nevertheless, Yuka made him feel a little better.

'Don't get comfortable on your own!
You'll be fine.
'How dare you say that when you just told me I could die?

　Tsk, Yuka clicked her tongue and crossed her legs.
　Her toe hit the beat, but probably on purpose.